Callum vs Luca
Callum and Lucacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #62 and Luca #6 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #248 and Luca #7 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Callum was ranked #54 and Luca #7 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Callum was ranked #49 and Luca #11 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2009, Callum was ranked #78 and Luca #52 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Callum was ranked #99 and Luca #60 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Callum and Luca over time
Callum and Luca appear together in 4 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Callum held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Luca in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Callum reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Luca in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Luca moved into the top 50 at #30 in 2022 as Callum fell out of it to #53, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2013, Luca moved ahead of Callum in England and Wales · Boys — #51 and #61 the year before became #73 and #60.
- Mirrored each other
Over 25 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Luca rose about as far as Callum fell — from #25 and #277 in 2000 to #54 and #7 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Callum and Luca were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1994 to 2025, ending at #49 and #11.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1994–2025
Callum held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Luca in 4.
Highest recorded here: Callum #22 in 2006, Luca #11 in 2025.
The order changed in 2022: Luca moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #39 and #54; by 2022 that had become #53 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Callum #49, Luca #11.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Luca in 12.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 1998, Luca #7 in 2023.
The order changed in 2013: Luca moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #51 and #61; by 2013 that had become #73 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #248, Luca #7.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2024
Callum held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Luca in 5.
Highest recorded here: Callum #8 in 2006, Luca #7 in 2024.
The order changed in 2019: Luca moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #66 and #67; by 2019 that had become #86 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Callum #54, Luca #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 2005–2012
Callum held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Luca in 2.
Highest recorded here: Callum #61 in 2009, Luca #60 in 2012.
The order changed in 2012: Luca moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #75 and #79; by 2012 that had become #99 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Callum #99, Luca #60.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Callum | Luca |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with 'dove', via its connection to Saint Columba. | The Italian and Romanian form of Lucas, itself probably a shortened form of the Greek 'Loukanos', meaning 'from Lucania' (a region of southern Italy). |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba | Italian, via Greek Loukas |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkæləm/ | /ˈluːkə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #49 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Callum is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised form of Calum), from Latin columba origin, while Luca is recorded with a Italian, via Greek Loukas origin.
- Callum and Luca both have 2 syllables.
- Callum's recorded meaning differs from Luca's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Callum
Popularity journey
First recorded1988
First recorded at #80 among boys in New Zealand in 1988 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #49 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Luca
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #603 among boys in Norway in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2023
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2004–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys